Singer-songwriter Lee Koch is happy to sit down anywhere and play for anyone who’s interested in hearing one of his creations. Just don’t ask him to play backup on someone else’s track.

“If people are looking for just a musician to sit in or do a studio session, I’m the last person to raise my hand,” Koch said in a recent phone interview. “I don’t understand theory and I’m OK on my instruments, but I like to focus on the lyrics and the message of the songs. If my message gets across, then I’m happy.”

A Temecula native, Koch attributes his love of music to his parents, who always filled his childhood home with the sounds of some of the greatest singer-songwriters in recent history.

“I think that it’s the purity of the genre that influences me,” he said. “It was folks like Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, and those types of guys, as well as the bigger classic rock bands like Zeppelin and the Stones, that got me. They were all influenced by blues and are foundationally blues bands. That really turned me on to the genre.”

Lee Koch with the Brewer Boys

Describing his music as a truly American mix of folk, jazz and blues, Koch released his first self-funded album, “Same as Blood,” in 2009, and from it, he grew a loyal fan base. However, after a couple of years, Koch began to tire of what he was doing musically and felt his audience was dwindling, along with his desire to play.

He had all but decided to close the door on performing forever, but when he was invited to audition for the hit NBC reality talent competition “The Voice” in 2012, Koch considered giving performing one final shot. Still, he was worried about backlash from his peers.

“Although I was appreciative and grateful for the opportunity, I couldn’t deny that there’s definitely a stigma within the circle of musicians I was around, and most legitimate musicians kind of scoff at the whole reality TV thing,” Koch said. “So there’s something in your head where you don’t want to lose your street cred, which is pretty silly, I guess.”

Because he already had emotionally committed to quitting the industry, Koch viewed an audition for the show as more of a chance to make a memory than a valid career move.

“When I was working pretty hard with my band, it didn’t even cross my mind to try out for one of those shows — but when I was getting out of music anyway and had nothing to lose, I figured what the heck,” he said. “It gives you life experience, and if you actually make it on, it could be a fun story. When I did get on, it was definitely a trip. I probably wouldn’t do it again, but I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”

Koch credits his time on the show as a member of “Team Christina,” with the rekindling of affection from the audience who had once been so enthusiastic about his work.

“It was three years after my first album that this ‘Voice’ thing happened, and I think the fans felt rejuvenated after I showed up on the show,” Koch said. “They saw that I was getting back into music again, and they spoke up so positively about it that it made me feel really good. It was really encouraging for me, and it made me feel like I owed them something.”

What Koch felt he owed was a follow-up album, which became the recently released “Whole Heart.”

“I ended up calling my album ‘Whole Heart’ because not only am I sharing a lot of personal stuff, but it’s such a mix of subjects and emotions,” he said. “Some of the songs are kind of humorous and some are a little more intense, faith-based songs or love songs. It’s pretty across-the-board, I’d say, from the genre to the subject matter.”

The new album, and some encouragement from his wife, gave Koch the kick-start he needed to begin touring again, and on the road, he brings with him those who continue to inspire his work.

“I’ll have my core band, which is bass, drums and violin. But what will be special for me, but also for the listeners, is I have the producer of my last two albums, Jesse Siebenberg, there, who is really the one who brought all my songs to life,” Koch said. “To have him in his own little corner of the stage, with just a little half-circle of instruments, will be entertaining not only for me but for anyone who chooses to come to the show.”

Koch will share selections from the new album when the local boy returns home to the Old Town Temecula Community Theater this Friday night, and he looks forward to bringing some hometown talent to such a revered artistic venue.

“They do plays and stuff and have national acts come through, but it’s not often you see a local band or local musician play at the Temecula theater,” Koch said. “I think coming to the show is supporting local art, whether or not you like my music. But aside from that, I think the lineup of musicians I’m going to have there are all top-notch. I’ve got a lot of new songs, and I think we’re going to be playing as passionately as ever. It’s all fresh to us and the music is heartfelt and entertaining — and hopefully the audience will enjoy it as well.”